Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Review: "Treasure on Moon Lake" by Amy Gamet

Synopsis:

Jewelry designer Tori Henderson’s first year in business was far more expensive than she could have imagined. Faced with closing the doors of Tori’s Treasures, she sinks her last dollar into one final promotion—a widely publicized treasure hunt for a chest of fine, handmade jewelry that could drum up enough business to get her back in the black... or kill her shop once and for all.

The last thing she needs is her mother's announcement that she's preparing to marry Edward Trainor, the father of Tori’s long ago summer crush, Gabe - a man who regularly makes his way into Tori's dreams some ten years later.

Corporate tycoon Jed Trainor has no intention of attending his estranged father’s wedding, and he certainly doesn’t need to see his half-brother Gabe after the other man put the moves on Jed's one-time fiancée. But with business problems looming, Jed needs time to think, and the small town of Moon Lake seems like the perfect place to hide away while he figures out how to save his empire.

The last thing he needs is the distraction of a beautiful woman who thinks she’s in love with his idiot half-brother.

Tori is determined to win Gabe’s heart, but Jed has other plans. When they learn Gabe is bringing a date to the wedding, Jed offers to bring Tori himself, knowing any woman on his arm is sure to be on Gabe’s radar. But his ploy for her attention just may blow up in his face. Can Jed prove to Tori he’s the Trainor brother she really belongs with?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

Treasure on Moon Lake is a fun story of two men, two women, fractured family relationships, an impending wedding, a failing business, a business being lost - what else could be thrown into the mix as Tori meets Jed. This story certainly is a whirlwind from start to finish. Tori struggles throughout much of the story because she insists on holding on to a youthful crush on Gabe, while fighting her developing feelings for his boorish older brother, Jed. Add in Jed's ex-fiance and Gabe's secret crush Evelyn and it makes for some fun mix-ups and make-ups on Moon Lake.

I wasn't sure what to make of Gabe at the beginning, but by the end, I liked him. I liked how he is portrayed as the womanizer at the beginning of the story, when in reality, he was suffering from unrequited feelings of his own. His vulnerability was quite endearing as he explains his feelings to Jed and asks for his blessing. He is a different man at that point that I expected and he redeems himself to me at the end of the book.

Jed is a tough nut to crack. He puts up a tough exterior because he feels betrayed over and over and his gruff exterior and demanding nature is really a mask to protect him from what he sees as constant situations that leave him feeling hurt and betrayed. He acts boorish and possessive of Tori but I saw through his behavior to the hurt boy underneath who just wants to be honestly loved. I enjoyed watching his transformation near the end of the book - a testament to the power of love.

I have three kids, a husband, a slightly stinky and poorly trained dog, and an ancient calico cat who doesn’t like people.

My house is in a perpetual state of disarray despite my constant attempts to clean it. Old women at grocery stores tell me how lucky I am, that it all goes so fast, and I nod my head and say something pithy like, “It sure does!” while trying to keep the baby from changing the language on the card reader screen or voiding my entire transaction.

I’m that woman.

People ask when I find time to write, and I point to my husband, the sweet frazzled sight of him as he hoses down a screaming child with one hand and unloads the dishwasher with the other. That, my friends, is romance. Well, it’s what the best romances turn into if you’re lucky.

As you read this, I’m probably putting someone into time-out, cleaning something, or explaining to my progeny why I put him/her into time-out or why I shouldn’t have to clean whatever it was I just cleaned. Or maybe, if your timing is just perfectly right, I’m sitting on the purple reclining loveseat in a basement full of toys, writing my next big novel while my husband takes care of the chaos for a while.

For him, and for the kids and the stinky, cranky pets, and for the opportunity to tell you a story, I am grateful. I hope you enjoy my work.

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About Me

I'm a mom of 3 and an avid reader. After not reading anything other than books to my kids, I decided to read for myself. And I was hooked. My Kindle goes everywhere with me - and I mean everywhere. I wore out my first one. I read romance novels: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Christian Romance, Historical Romance. I may throw in a Women's Fiction from time to time, and maybe a John Grisham (because who doesn't love John Grisham) but mostly you'll read about my Romance reads. My 2015 New Years Resolution was to write more reviews. When I finish a book, I immediately want to jump into another one, and often do. But the authors I read bring so much to my life with their books and I'd like to give a little back by offering them a review.